Reversal of Misfortune...A Mets Dynasty

[gern11]

The Mets bowed to the Cincinnati Reds, 3-2, in Game 5 of the NLCS to bring a bitter close to the 1984 campaign.

Frank Viola, who relieved starter Storm Davis to begin the bottom of the sixth, issued a pair of walks to the first two batters he encountered and was pulled for Dennis Martinez.

Martinez retired Scott Fletcher and Rance Mulliniks to reach the threshold of escape before Dale Berra tagged him on a 2-2 fastball for a tie-breaking RBI single and 3-2 lead.

[gern11]

Adding insult to injury, the Yankees took down the Reds, 5-4, in Game 6 to claim the 1984 World Series title.

The Mets have owned the Big Apple over the past 15 years, with 13 playoff appearances and six World Series crowns since 1970. Meanwhile in the Bronx, the Yankees completed their fourth consecutive trip to the post season with their 20th world championship.

What is even more extraordinary is who has been at the forefront of the Yankees' resurgence.

IRL, Jerry Tabb played three major-league seasons and a total of 74 games with a slash line of .226/.284/.345. Here's what he's accomplished during his time in the Reversal of Misfortune dynasty...



So, as much as it pains us in Queens, we tip our cap to the crosstown rivals on their championship and reset our priorities toward regaining the crown in '85.

[gern11]

The organization was informed that LF Jim Rice has executed his player option and will test the free-agent market.

Rice has been an instrumental piece in our success but will be 32 at the start of the '85 season. I'm sure there is still some tread left on the tires but we will be cautious in our pursuit of returning him to Queens.

It may signal the emergence of Joe Carter to fill his void in left.

[gern11]

Have to admit, I'm was a little stunned by this news.

Mets announced they will retire Vida Blue's No. 14. He retired at age 35. A look at his numbers and you make the call.

[gern11]

SS Robin Yount picked up a Gold Glove.
C Gary Carter and 2B Juan Samuel earned Silver Slugger Awards.


Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Dwight Gooden (boy, does it pain me to type that) won NL Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and MVP. Ouch!

[gern11]

Mets swung a couple moves at the Winter Meetings...including a blockbuster.

After trading SS Steve Jeltz to Oakland in exchange for OF Marvell Wynne, the Amazins pivoted toward landing a bigger fish. With that, we've reeled in CF Dale Murphy from the Cardinals. At 28, we envisioned Dale to be a long-term centerpiece for us both defensively and at the plate. The Cards received OFs Gary Pettis and Daryl Motley along with RP Dan Plesac.

[gern11]

Mets drafted 17-year-old SS Omar Vizquel in the first round of the MLB Draft.

They landed feisty 22-year-old LHP Dennis Cook in Round 2 and 20-year-old 3B Jeff Manto in Round 3.

Slot money estimated at $120,00 but draft picks' demands totaled only $17,400, saving us potentially $102,600.

[gern11]

Mets signed 1B/3B Bob Horner to a one-year, $525K deal. Horner penciled in to play first base in '85.

[gern11]

[gern11]

A lineup that is doing its fair share of wearing out opposing pitchers has been instrumental in driving the Amazins thru the first month of the 1985 season and to a familiar perch atop the NL East.

Off-season acquisitions Dale Murphy and Bob Horner have boosted the offense; Murphy hitting at a .348 clip with 12 RBI and Horner leading the team in doubles.

Tom Browning's recent insertion into the rotation has been beneficial to the rotation. The left-hander is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA.

[gern11]

It's early but I always like to flex a little divisional muscle whenever possible. Such was not the case in Flushing this week as the Mets drop 2 of 3 against the first-place Phillies.

The disappointing showing slips the Mets 1 1/2 games back in the NL East. The Amazins fell short in a couple of 2-1 pitchers' duels but took the middle game with some late offensive heroics from Gary Carter and Dale Murphy.

[gern11]

Mets completed in-season negotiations and inked deals with both OF Dale Murphy and RHP Dennis Martinez.

Murphy signed a five-year deal worth a reported $2.84 million contract while Martinez will return on a two-year contract that pulled in $496,000.

[gern11]

Mets head down the Turnpike for a four-game set with the Phillies in a June showdown for first place in the NL East.

The Phillies have held a pretty firm grasp on the top spot with the Mets subplanting them for a day last week. As we head into the intriguing matchup, a look at the standings...

[gern11]

Outstanding job by the Amazins, who take 3 of 4 on Philly and hop atop NL East. Missed out on an opportunity to sweep, up, 3-1, with our emerging ace Tom Browning. However, the lefty ran outta gas in the seventh, giving up a pair of runs that tied the game.

Phils walked it off in 10th on a Derek Bryant RBI single off John Franco.

All good. Getting outta there with three in the pocket beats a split or worse.

[gern11]

Coming straight outta the good vibes we created in Philly, the Mets get hit with a glass - not a bucket yet - of cold water. Bob Horner heads to the 15-day DL with a concussion and Kirk Gibson is day to day dealing with an intercostal strain.

No worries. The offense clicks on all gears in the first two of three in Montreal, hanging 37 hits during that span in a pair of victories. George Brett goes 7-for-11 with two doubles, a home run, four runs and three RBI.

[gern11]

Since leaving Philly, Mets go 20-10 while Phillies suffering a 14-15 spell. That combination results in New York opening a welcomed 6 1/2-game lead in the NL East as the All-Star break arrives.



Here is a look at where the Mets stack up statistically against the rest of the MLB.



As for the league leaders at the break, now would be a good time to shed a little light on the season Don Mattingly is having in Toronto. The smooth-swinging lefty is on the hunt to become the first player to hit .400 since Ted Williams in 1941.



Here at the pitching leaders at the break...

[gern11]

The 1985 season marks the introduction of the Home Run Derby to the All-Star Game festivities.Here are the competitors for the inaugural event, headlined by Toronto's sizzling Don Mattingly.

[gern11]

Mike Young of the Milwaukee Brewers edged Detroit's Eddie Murray, 9-8, in the final to claim the inaugural Home Run Derby crown.

The 25-year old, switching-hitting left fielder pulled off the stunning victory from a field that included Darryl Strawberry, Mike Schmidt, Dale Murphy and Don Mattingly.

[gern11]

Who in their right mind would have pegged Goose Gossage to deliver the deciding hit in an All-Star Game?

Certainly, he could be a prime candidate to steal a late-inning win out of the pen, yet it was Gossage who slapped an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth that pushed the American League past the Nationals, 5-4, in the Midsummer Classic at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

Gossage pulled double duty, hurling the last two innings to pick up the win for the AL, which trailed, 4-0, heading into the bottom of the seventh. That change when White Sox catcher Ron Hassey belted a three-run homer off Mets' hurler Storm Davis as part of a four-run outburst that tied the game.

[gern11]

The Mets worked out a blockbuster deal with the Baltimore Orioles, acquiring 25-year-old RF Tony Gwynn in exchange for RF Kirk Gibson and 23-year-old RHP Doug Drabek.

Gwynn will sliding into right for New York and give the Amazins another lethal bat in the lineup. We obviously upgrade at the position and there was no way to turn down a chance at landing Gwynn but giving up Drabek, who was projected to be in Queens next season, is a loss we were willing to absorb under the circumstances.

The deal comes on the heels of the Mets going 8-3 out of the All-Star break and building an 8 1/2-game cushion in the NL East. That margin has dwindled to six as we steer into the dog days of summer.